Vincent Carolan

Sunday, November 28, 2021 11:47 pm

Vincent J. Carolan passed away Nov. 23, 2021.

Vince was born in Bluffton, Iowa on Aug. 6,1937 to Edward and Agnes (Knox) Carolan. He was the second born of four children. Siblings include Rita Selden of Harmony, Minn., Francis (Rose) Carolan of Hudson, and Gregory (Rosella) Carolan of Decorah.

Favorite moments were spent sharing a cup of coffee with friends while discussing crops and combines.He graduated from Decorah High School in 1956. Throughout his adult life he enjoyed driving trucks. This passion began on the farm and while driving school bus at 16 years of age, then driving ambulance near Tacoma, Wash., while enlisted in the U.S. Army. He served from 1960 to 1966 in active and reserve duty. He briefly studied agronomy at Iowa State College in Ames.

Vince married Betty Schlee on Sept. 12, 1964. They had two children: Rhonda and Scott. They raised their family in Decorah and Spring Grove MN, where they bought Onstad Dairy in 1976. Rhonda and Scott often accompanied dad on the milk route on Saturdays and school holidays. Dad shared many stories of his childhood driving down dusty gravel roads to  neighboring communities delivering milk and ice cream to customers who became friends. His hobbies were best spent with family and friends. He enjoyed dartball, snowmobiling and road trips. He was always ready to play a few hands of Euchre. He loved watching SG Lions and his Packers play football. Cooking brats for the Knights of Columbus was an annual favorite, along with volunteering to support their charitable endeavors.Vince also sold seed for Northrup King, asphalt products for Swepco, drove gas truck for Thermogas (Decorah) and Cenex (Spring Grove) and worked at Sno-Pac. Seasonally, he drove semi trucks loaded with Christmas trees from the woods of northern California to large cities in southern California. His best memories were spent driving farm vehicles. He loved harvest time. It is fitting that he departed this world as soon as the crops were in on November 23 during the final season of his life.After retiring from truck-driving in his seventies, dad spent a few years in retirement and enjoyed helping friends plant and combine their crops.

He moved to Spring Grove Assisted Living in 2018 and loved the community of friends he developed there. He found a new pursuit; puzzle-making and won a lot of Bingo games. He was never without a story or comment to share.

Survivors include his siblings; daughter, Rhonda (Kevin) Kertzman of Chaska Minn.; son, Scott (Tracy) Carolan of Farmington Minn.

Vince was proud of the accomplishments of his grandchildren: Alex (special friend Lauren) of New York, Kyle and Landon of Farmington. He also enjoyed the large family gatherings with his step-grand kids Zack (Jacki), Ben (Audrey), Matt (Jade), Sam (Lindsey) and Tom.

We will miss dad’s broad smile and love for sharing stories, his teasing spirit and deep love of his community as well as time shared with friends and family. He lived his life quietly but abundantly.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Friday, Dec. 3 at 11 a.m. at St. Olaf Catholic Church in Mabel, Minn.. Visitation will be 9:30 to 11 a.m. prior to Mass at the church. A private burial will be held at the Minnesota State Veteran’s Cemetery in Preston, Minn.